Diaphragm-holding ring for talking machines and other acoustical instruments



Nov. 11, 1924. 1515,456

H. L.' T. BUCKLE DIAPHRAGM HOLDING RING FOR TALKING MACHINES AND OTHER ACOUSTICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 25, 1924 Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,515,456 PATENT OFFICE.

Bonner: LEoroLn r'uonnn inseam, or YIEWSLEY, ENGLAND.

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Application filed February 23, 1924... Seria1,-No.- 694,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE Lnorono TUCKER BUoKLn, a subject of theKing of Great Britain, residing at Yiewsley, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in .Diaphragm-Holding Rings for Talking chines and Other Acoustical Instruments, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention reldtes to improvements in rings for holding the diaphragm of talking machines and other acoustical instruments,

where the diaphragmis' mounted. in and carried by the holding ring itself, instead of being clamped by a ring tothe body of a sound boxor telephonetransmitter for ex-' ample. The invention is particularly applicable' to rings for holding large diaphragms such for example as those described in British Letters Patent No. 11,015 of 1909 Where the diaphragm may be as much as 10 or Minche's in diameter.. It is of great importance that the ring in WlllCh the d121- phr'agm is mounted should be atonce strong, rigid and light. so that while it has little or no tendency to respond to the vibrations transmitted to the diaphragm it is nevertheless of such ,aweight as not to throw too much work upon the needle point or other means whereby the diaphragm, in a talking machine for example, is moved over the record. I

- According to the present invention a diaphragm holding ring for acoustical instruments is composed of a strip or strips of metal or other suitable stifi' material folded over the edge of the diaphragm and gripping the diaphragm on both sides and it has a stiffening rib running round it which 40 strengthens the ring against distortion out of its normal plane that is to say, the plane ofthe diaphragm. The ring when closed on the diaphragm may have a section formed of two flat sides lying close on either sideof the diaphragm-between which is a channel portion running round the outside of the ring and forming the stiffening rib.

The ring may be formed by shaping a Hat strip of aluminium for example into a ring with a substantially V-s'ection and with a channel portion atthe point of the V. The ends of the strip may he stepped, so that when the ring is closed down on the diaphragm the overlapping edges at the two ends may be held together by a bolt or rivet;

while there may be laid in the channel por- 'tion at the abutting ends-a tie member with ring 'is closed down on the diaphragm the m inner sides of the channel portion grip fast.

. The invention is illustrated. in the accompanyin'g drawings in which F ig; 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the abutting ends of the ring, before closing, sepa M rated from one another, and the tie member for use. therewith.

Fig. 2 shows a section on an enlarged scale of the ring before closing.

Fig. 3 shows a section on an enlarged scale m of the ring when closed down-upon the diaphragm with the .tie member in position.

A flat strip of aluminium is first formed up into a rmg with the section shown in Fig.

2, that is to say substantially a V-shaped section. with the flat, sides a a and a channel portion 1) at the point of theV, the sides extending inwardly from the channel portion toward the center of the ring. The. ends of the rings so formed are stepped at a, as 39 shown in Fig. 1, so that the end d on the ri ht hand side overlaps the end 0 onthe le t hand side. In these overlapping ends are drilled holes f'through which a bolt 9 may be inserted when the ring is closed down on the diaphragm. The tie member 12. consists of a relatively short section of roughened rod which is housed within the channel portion b and spans the joint between the abutting ends of the ring. This tie member is preferably slightly curved to correspond with the curve of the completed ring. When the ring is closed down upon the diaphragm a as shown in Fig. 3 (by means of asuitable press) the tie member .71, is gripped tightly by the sides of the channel portion 6 and the ends of the ring cannot be drawn apart. The set screw 9 completes the joint. Between the holding ring and the edge of the diaphragm may be inserted a folded ring of felt or rubber it, so that the diaphragm is insulated from the metal rim.

It will be seen that the completed ring (Fig. 3) shows a means of holding" the diaphragm 2' which is light and strong. The section of the closed ringresented by the flat sides a (1 holds the ring against distortion from the true circular form iwhilst the circumferential rib formed by the closed channel portion 2) offers sufficient resistance to any distortion. of the ring from -it s ;1ormal plane, that is, the plane of the diaphragm. In the closed or operative position of the ring the channel portion projects both beyond the peri hery o the diaphragm in the plane of the atter and laterally beyond the sides a a.

It will be understood that the ring in the case of a talking machine can be secured to suitable holding means such as a spider, at the centre of which is mounted the reproducing stylus, the screws for attaching the ring to the ends of the spider arms passing through both the flat sides a of the ring and tending still further to stiffen the ring.

I clairm. p

1. A diaphragm holding-ring having a channel portion extending around its circumference and flatannular sides extending inwardly from said channel portion toward the center of the ring and adapted to engage o posite faces of the dia hragm, said channe portion projecting bot beyond the peri hery of the diaphragm in the plane of the atter and laterally beyond said sides,

when the ring is in an operative position, and forming a circumferential strengthenmg rib.

the joint between sai -gage opposite faces of the diaphragm and an intermediate channel portion extending around the periphery of t 0 ring and forma ing a circumferential strengthenin rib, the ring being split andhaving abuttln ends, and a re tiv-ely short tie member oused within the channel (portion and spanning ends and in intimate binding connection with said ends to prevent separation thereofi 3. A diaphragmholding ring having spaced gripping surfaces adapted to be pressed towards each other into engagement with opposite faces of the diaphragm, and

an intermediate channel portion extending around the peripher of the ring, said ring being split andhaving abutting ends, and a roughened tie member housed within the channel portion and spanning the joint between said ends and engaging and biting into said channel portion when the gripping surfaces are pressed against the diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HORACE uzorow TUCKER aucxm. 

